'Love makes success happen' KAMP Dovetail celebrates 30 years

Lighting candles on a six-foot tall birthday "cake," the "kampers," organizers, supporters and volunteers of KAMP Dovetail celebrated 30 years of Kids And Motivated People with tears, cheers and fireworks. 

"Love makes success happen," said Doug Rudolph, the founder of KAMP Dovetail. 

Rudolph was among those who guests honored and recognized during the birthday celebration and received a standing ovation from the crowd and kampers during his introduction. 

Chuck Emery, board president of SATH (Supplemental Assistance to the Handicapped), welcomed the 275 overnight kampers, 35 day kampers, 400 one-on-one volunteers and 77 staff members Monday for the opening day at Rocky Fork Lake State Park. He then introduced SATH executive director Linda Allen, who received a resounding cheer from the kampers. 

"I want you to see some of the special people who make this happen," Allen said, introducing the Highland County Board of Commissioners, Tom Horst, Jeremy Shaffer and Shane Wilkin; Ohio 86th District Representative Cliff Rosenberger; Jeff Boester, park manager of the Rocky Fork region; and former President of the Ohio Senate, Doug White. 

Allen presented Rudolph with the "Founder's Award" and honored him with a plaque for his work, which stated it was "in recognition of your extraordinary efforts to establish a summer program for children with special needs." 

"You can come up with an idea, and it can forge itself into something beautiful and big and good because of people like you. Every volunteer I have met this year has been smiling and loving each other, has been loving the kampers they're with. That's what this is all about. You're a host of love," Rudolph said. 

Rudolph had the volunteers and KAMP Dovetail participants to give themselves a round of applause. 

KAMP Dovetail has "flourished" in the last 30 years to what it is today, Rudolph said, who admitted to having tears in his eyes as he took the stage to the amphitheater. 

"I had dreams of what it might be. Every time I think of this place I think of the times and love with people I shared with people here. Please continue to do it," Rudolph said. 

As each speaker took the stage, the enthusiastic crowd would often cheer, "KAMP Dovetail!"

As Allen introduced the former President of the Senate, she told the group that White was instrumental in securing a place for KAMP Dovetail to be able to use each year at RFL. Twenty years ago, when Allen became the executive director of SATH, she said that they were using a private facility they had to pay for. White, she said, helped them find the space and warm reception they needed at the state park. 

"He is the reason that we are here today," Allen said. 

White said that Allen's passion for the job, after 20 years, remains infectious and inspirational. 

"It has been a thrill to have been a part of this," White said, to Allen and to the SATH board. "I am so thrilled with your commitment to the passion of Linda Allen. And I am so thrilled to your commitment to the passion of Linda Allen by all of you volunteers out here. I am thrilled at the passion that you are giving to those who are special in our community. (Allen) fills the room with a vibrance that you cannot refuse, that you cannot respond but to give a little bit of yourself and your life to. It's very easy for any of us to be passionate about something for a year or two years or maybe five years. But something as important as the special needs friends and neighbors that we have in our community, to have that passion for 20 years, to keep this going for 30 years, we thank you, the board members, and we thank you, Linda, for your continued exuberance for all of this."

Park Manager Jeff Boester said that of all the events put on in state parks throughout the year, KAMP Dovetail is "undoubtedly one of the best events for Ohio State Parks, and Rocky Fork is truly honored that you guys have chosen this as your site. We're truly honored that you are here this evening, and we will do whatever we can to make it a great event. We guarantee that we will do whatever we can to make sure that you're at Rocky Fork for the next 30 years."

Allen then recognized the people who made it possible for SATH to purchase a new medical building that will be used each year, including the Bellbrook Lions Club, Clinton County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Brian Lorentz, and the family of Makenna Roush. 

Nora Coleman, a SATH board member, read a list of things that had changed at KAMP Dovetail since 1991 when Allen took over as director. Most notably, she said that it cost $10 for the week, and there were 35 kampers. 

The more than 300 total kampers only pay $20 to attend for the week in 2011. 

Board member Jill Kelch and Thomas Wright read the names during the candle lighting ceremony for the cake. Constructed by Wright, Allen said that the rows of candles were in memory of kampers who have passed away, volunteers who have passed away, donors and supporters of the kamp, and others who make the event possible. 

Those represented by the candles included: 

• In honor of Doug Rudolph

• In honor of Bob and Dorothy Hodson, who provide teddy bears for each kamper

• In honor of the New Vienna Lions Club

• In honor of the Bellbrook Lions Club

• In honor of the Chillicothe Lions Club

• In memory of Michelle Bear

• In memory of Kaylie Howe

• In memory of Makenna Roush

• In memory of Elenor Esz 

• In memory of Marty Sparks

• In memory of Jeanne Polstra

• In memory of Ron Smith

• In memory of Amber Smith

• In memory of Ashley Colther

• In memory of Lee Meyer

• In memory of Tony Reyes

• In memory of NaTasha Sparks

• In memory of E.W. Wagner

• In memory of Eddie Carson

• In memory of Dakota Mitchell

• In honor of American Heritage

• In honor of Murray-Fettro Funeral Home 

• In honor of Hamilton Painting

• In honor of First State Bank

• In honor of Eric and Jamie Huff and children

• In honor of Bobbie Jo and Ladon Soales

• In honor of the Kampers

• In honor of Kamp Volunteers 

• In honor of Rocky Fork State Park

• In honor of Jesus Christ

Following the ceremonies, White told The Highland County Press that he has a special-needs granddaughter, making what happens at KAMP Dovetail especially close to his heart. 

"I am happily retired at my home in Adams County, but Linda calls me about once a year to help support, and when Linda Allen calls me, I respond," White said. "She wanted me to be a part of it, that it was their 30th year and a milestone for them, and I couldn't pass it up. I have a special-needs granddaughter that I love beyond measure. To see Linda, the staff, her volunteers, how she gets all these volunteers to respond to these special-needs kids and for a week they can give a great experience to these young people, it's so exciting."

White said that he is overwhelmed about how the attitudes toward special-needs people have changed over the past 30 years, and it is a credit to new generations. 

"I'm so thankful," White said. "I'm almost 70 years old and I remember when special-needs children were not taken care of, were not included outside family, in the community. You were supposed to stay home, behind the curtain. So I am so pleased that this generation is really taking to the special needs. We found out that there is so much love here, so much love that we get back in return for what little bit we give. I am really pleased to have been a small part of it over the years."

A part of what makes KAMP Dovetail so special is the bond that forms between the volunteers and the kampers. Each kamper is paired with their own volunteer who stays with them the entire week at kamp. 

One pair, Kat Castle and Lexie Hopkins, have both been attending KAMP Dovetail for four years, and have been paired together each time. 

"I love being around the kids, I love getting to help out, all the activities," said 16-year-old Castle. "Her favorite activities are swimming and the horses. It really gives her a chance to do something that she doesn't normally get to do at home." 

Twelve-year-old Hopkins was giggling and clapping with all the excitement of the opening day ceremonies. 

"You can hear how excited she is," Castle said. "Everyone is so pumped and so ready for a good week. We even had rain tonight, and it hasn't stopped us at all."

Downpours and thunderstorms had moved across Highland County all day Monday, but by the evening, there were blue skies for the kampers who were excited to conclude the day with a fireworks display. 

Highland County Commissioner Shane Wilkin told The Highland County Press that any person who has not had a chance to see what the KAMP is like will be rewarded by the experience of seeing the joy the weeklong event brings to each child's face. 

"It's great to be here, to see what the kampers experience, and what it means for the kids to come here and do things that we take for granted every day," Wilkin said. "It's heartbreaking, but it's wonderful to see how much it means to them. It is a really neat place."